Podcasts about comfort ero

FP Live is joined by Comfort Ero, the president and CEO of the International Crisis Group, as she details the 2025 edition of “10 Conflicts to Watch.” From Sudan to Myanmar, Haiti, Ukraine, Iran, and beyond, why is the world facing so many crises at once, and how can it solve them? Suggested reading (FP links are paywall-free): Comfort Ero and Richard Atwood: 10 Conflicts to Watch in 2025 Aaron David Miller and Lauren Morganbesser: Why the Gulf States Might Feature Prominently in Trump's Foreign Policy Raphael S. Cohen: China and North Korea Throw U.S. War Plans Out the Window Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Alex de Waal, executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University and Comfort Ero, president & CEO of the International Crisis Group join Washington Post Live to examine Sudan's hunger and displacement crisis, the underlying conflict of the country's civil war and the response from the international community. Conversation recorded on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

 The wars in Gaza and Ukraine have captured the world's attention – but the civil war in Sudan has been just as devastating. Comfort Ero is president and CEO of The International Crisis Group, and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss Sudan's yearling internal conflict, the refugees it's produced, and why it's not receiving the same attention as other wars. Her article “Sudan and the New Age of Conflict” was published in Foreign Affairs. 

In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Comfort Ero, Crisis Group's President and CEO, and Stephen Pomper, Chief of Policy, to talk about a string of recent conferences – in Germany, India and Türkiye – and obstacles to diplomacy aimed at securing peace deals among warring parties. First, they share takeaways from the Munich Security Conference, the Raisina Dialogue in India and Türkiye's Antalya Diplomacy Forum, the differences in mood in each of the three meetings and what they tell us about global affairs today. Then, they discuss why so few recent conflicts have ended in negotiated settlements, what's behind the seeming demise of comprehensive peace agreements and what a changing global environment for diplomacy means for efforts to end wars today.For more of Crisis Group's in-depth analysis of conflicts around the world, check out our website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than any time in the last 75 years, we're living in a world at war. Conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine dominate headlines. But that's just part of it. Last year, Azerbaijan seized Nagorno-Karabakh, forcing thousands of ethnic Armenians to flee. There's a full-scale civil war in Myanmar. In Africa, there is war in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Congo, and there have been seven coups on the continent since August 2020. Comfort Ero, the head of the International Crisis Group, has been tracking these conflicts as closely as anyone. She has watched the international system grow more brittle and less effective at preventing war—and has been doing the hard political work of ending conflict once it breaks out. You can find transcripts and more episodes of The Foreign Affairs Interview at https://www.foreignaffairs.com/podcasts/foreign-affairs-interview.

Next year marks 30 years since the start of the International Crisis Group, which conducts research and analysis to prevent and resolve global conflict. Comfort Ero, president and CEO of Crisis Group, says the organization was “made for this moment,” as crises continue to unfold from Gaza to Haiti to Ukraine. She spoke with Devex on the sidelines of South by Southwest, an annual conference in Austin, Texas, about America's role in the world, ahead of a high stakes U.S. presidential election, as well as the war in Gaza, and how the climate crisis and the rise of AI are shaping the future of conflict. “Our job is to find the political will, and to create ideas beyond the headlines, to get away from the noise, and to quietly try to thread the needle in a very complex and very dangerous world,” Ero said. Listen to the episode to hear more from Ero on Devex @ SXSW, a special edition of This Week in Global Development.

Sign up to Brilliant (the first 200 sign ups get 20% off an annual premium subscription): https://brilliant.org/tldreu/Jack interviews Dr Comfort Ero at MSC: https://youtu.be/F5aQSQ9LUjc?si=kP3e2eRI65bbmhGbWelcome to the TLDR News Daily BriefingIn today's episode, we run through how and why Brazil is planning to reform the UN. Also, we discuss the first US spacecraft to land on the moon after 50 years; the EU plans to impose more sanctions on Russia; & Egypt builds a wall on the Gaza border.

On this week's Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood is joined by Comfort Ero, Crisis Group's president and CEO, and Stephen Pomper, Chief of Policy, to reflect on 2023 and look ahead to 2024. They talk through Crisis Group's “10 Conflicts to Watch in 2024”, this year's edition of Crisis Group's annual flagship commentary by Comfort and Richard, co-published with Foreign Policy magazine. The list this year includes Gaza, the wider Middle East, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, Ethiopia, the Sahel, Haiti, Armenia-Azerbaijan and the U.S.-China rivalry. Comfort, Richard and Steve also talk through wider trends underpinning the uptick in conflict over recent years and what U.S. elections this year mean for world affairs and the U.S.'s global role. For more information, check out our flagship commentary, by Comfort Ero and Richard Atwood, with Foreign Policy magazine: “10 Conflicts to Watch in 2024”, Crisis Group's Twitter thread 8 Reasons For Hope in 2024 and the Ten Conflicts to Watch in 2024 Event with Comfort, hosted by Chatham House. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There have been seven coups across Africa from 2020 to 2023. Murithi Mutiga, director of the Africa Program at the International Crisis Group, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the challenges democracy faces in the grip of political violence, and the risk of that violence spreading to the rest of the continent. His Foreign Affairs article, written with Comfort Ero, is “The Crisis of African Democracy.”

With wars in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, the world begins the new year on high alert. Comfort Ero, the president of the International Crisis Group, joins Ravi Agrawal to share her analysis of the state of the world, building on her annual essay in Foreign Policy.  Suggested reading: Comfort Ero and Richard Atwood: 10 Conflicts to Watch in 2024 FP Contributors: 8 Simmering Threats You Shouldn't Ignore in 2024 FP Contributors: 5 Issues to Watch in 2024 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Special Episode of The Horn, we are bringing you a panel discussion on Sudan moderated by Crisis Group's President and CEO, Comfort Ero, at the 2023 Doha Forum. Comfort is joined by U.S. Special Envoy for The Horn of Africa Mike Hammer, UN Special Envoy for The Horn of Africa Hanna Tetteh, founding director of the Sudan-focused think tank Confluence Advisory, Kholood Khair and Crisis Group's Africa director Murithi Mutiga. They assess the latest diplomatic push to try and get a ceasefire in Sudan, ways to better coordinate mediation efforts and the difficult task of bringing the warring parties in Sudan to the negotiating table. They discuss the investments needed to better protect civilians in Sudan and the state of civilian efforts to unify against the war. They also highlight how a prolonged war in Sudan risks further destabilising an already fragile region.Find the link to the video recording of the full panel here.For more in-depth analysis of the topics discussed in this episode, check out our Horn of Africa page, our Sudan page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How important is the role of the international community in resolving conflict? Is peace possible in the Middle East? How relevant is the United Nations today? Rory and Alastair are joined by CEO of the Crisis Group, Dr Comfort Ero, to discuss all this and more in today's episode of Leading. TRIP Plus: Become a member of The Rest Is Politics Plus to support the podcast, receive our exclusive newsletter, enjoy ad-free listening to both TRIP and Leading, benefit from discount book prices on titles mentioned on the pod, join our Discord chatroom, and receive early access to live show tickets and Question Time episodes. Just head to therestispolitics.com to sign up, or start a free trial today on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/therestispolitics. Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @RestIsPolitics Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Producers: Dom Johnson + Nicole Maslen Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gideon talks to Comfort Ero, president of the International Crisis Group, about what's behind the recent resurgence of military coups in the Sahel region. Clip: BBCFree links to read more on this topic:US signals intention to engage with Niger juntaWhere is the next African coup?Niger is the graveyard of French policy in the SahelEthiopia's plan to rebuild in the wake of a ‘brutal' warSubscribe to The Rachman Review wherever you get your podcasts - please listen, rate and subscribe.Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Africa Aware reflects on Sierra Leone's peace process as the country concludes its 2023 general elections and marks the 24th anniversary of the Lomé Peace Agreement - which helped to bring an end to its decade-long civil war. Yusuf speaks to Dr Comfort Ero, President and CEO of Crisis Group, who discusses her experience as a researcher in Freetown during the civil war. Dr Ero highlights the challenges and innovations that emerged from the interlinked peace processes in Sierra Leone and Liberia - including the establishment of the landmark Kimberley Process which marks its 20th anniversary this year - and the wider lessons on how durable peace was achieved in the region. This podcast is an output of our project on ‘African peace processes: Lessons learned,' supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Cover image: Simon Davis/DFID

On this week's Hold Your Fire! Richard Atwood is joined by Comfort Ero, Crisis Group's president and CEO, and Stephen Pomper, chief of policy, to reflect on 2022 and look ahead to 2023. They talk through “10 Conflicts to Watch”, Crisis Group's yearly flagship commentary co-published with Foreign Policy magazine. They discuss Russia's war in Ukraine, its global ramifications and what it says about global affairs today. They also take a look at other flashpoints on the list, which this year includes Ukraine, Armenia-Azerbaijan, Iran, Yemen, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sahel, Haiti, Pakistan and Taiwan. Lastly, they talk about how we put the list together and, despite a generally gloomy and unsettling year, where we can look for signs of hope. For more information, check out our flagship commentary, by Comfort Ero and Richard Atwood, with Foreign Policy magazine: “10 Conflicts to Watch in 2023” you can also check out Crisis Group's Twitter thread 10 Reasons For Hope in 2023. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our first episode of 2023, we look at Africa and the complex role China plays on the continent. A recently published Chatham House report highlights twenty-two African countries suffering from debt distress, with Beijing a key creditor to many. This comes as China's new Foreign Minister Qin Gang is touring several African this week and next, with visits to Ethiopia, Angola, Gabon, and the headquarters of the African Union. This week we also hosted Dr Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group, where, in conversation with our own Dr Patricia Lewis, Comfort discussed the ten conflicts to watch in 2023. Our panel look at some of the key conflicts mentioned and how the world is responding to them. Joining Bronwen Maddox on the podcast this week are Dr Alex Vines, the Director of our Africa programme; Creon Butler, the Director of our Global Economy and Finance programme; Dr Yu Jie, the Senior Fellow on our Asia-Pacific programme, and Armida van Rij, a Research Fellow with the International Security programme. Read our expertise: The response to debt distress in Africa and the role of China Ten conflicts to watch in 2023 Africa in 2023: Continuing political and economic volatility The Director's Annual Lecture 2023 Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you get your podcasts. Please listen, rate, review and subscribe. Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Abdul Boudiaf and Robin Gardner.

This episode focuses on global conflict prevention and resolution and we are joined by Comfort Ero, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group. The International Crisis Group provides independent analysis and advice on how to prevent, resolve and better manage deadly conflict, combining field research, analysis and engagement with policymakers across the world in order to effect change in crisis situations. Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on nearly 200 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.   

Many Europeans see the war in Ukraine as an attack on the ‘rules-based order'. But to many people in other parts of the world, there is no consensus on a set of rules to govern global affairs – and no sense of order. In this mini-series, Mark Leonard will go on an intellectual tour of the world, talking to key thinkers about how order is being defined by different powers. He explores how the clash between these different notions plays into the big shocks facing the world – from climate change and future pandemics to geopolitical struggles and technological disasters – and what this means for national and global politics. ----- In this sixth instalment, Leonard is joined by Comfort Ero – president and CEO of the International Crisis Group – to learn more about the Nigerian perspective on global order. How can oil and gas output help Nigeria position itself advantageously in the context of the war in Ukraine? What role do African regionalism and Pax Africana play in building the continent's capacity to respond to crises? And finally, to what extent do the recent crisis in Libya and the hypermilitarisation of the Sahel shape understandings about ‘order' in Nigeria today? Further reading: • “Principles for global order: How Europeans and the global south can shape the international order together” by Theodore Murphy Bookshelf: • “Africa and the International System: The Politics of State Survival” by Christopher Clapham • Africa Confidential newsletter • “Why is the US role in Africa Shrinking?” by Zainab Usman • “Imagine Nigeria: Exploring the Future of Nigeria” by the Government of Nigeria and UNDP

The African continent is facing a multitude of challenges ranging from food and commodity insecurity worsened by the war in Ukraine, to the climate crisis, strong economic headwinds and ongoing deadly conflict in various areas. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine has accelerated global political trends unravelling the prevailing order, putting African countries increasingly in the crossfire of geopolitical tussles. Multilateral institutions like the United Nations are struggling to keep up with the flux between crises. This week on The Horn, in the new season's first episode, Alan talks with Comfort Ero, Crisis Group's president and CEO, to discuss what Africa's role in a reformed international system might look like. They discuss some of the imbalances of the current order and what the prospects are for a stronger African voice on the world stage. They talk about challenges facing the African Union, what UN Security Council reforms could look like and Africa's upcoming hosting of the COP27 conference in November. They assess how diplomats can best push for peace amid this unstable status quo, as well as ways for African leaders to address some of Africa's – and the world's – most pressing issues.Check out Crisis Group's Multilateral Diplomacy page for commentaries, reports and more on multilateralism in conflict prevention and resolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special Hold Your Fire! episode to mark the end of Season Two, Richard Atwood speaks first to Olga Oliker, Crisis Group's Europe and Central Asia director, for an update on the war in Ukraine, and then to Comfort Ero, its president and CEO, to reflect back on a rocky six months. Olga talks about the latest from the front lines in eastern and southern Ukraine. She and Richard discuss what is happening in Russian-occupied territories, whether Moscow's goals in Ukraine have evolved, and potential scenarios for the months ahead. They look at the impact of Western sanctions on Russia and prospects for getting Ukrainian grain out of Black Sea ports. They also zoom out, and reflect on European security and relations with Russia more broadly.Richard and Comfort then look back at an unsettling few months in global affairs. They reflect on the West's Ukraine policy and the dilemmas Russia's invasion poses for an organisation like Crisis Group in trying to find a sustainable end to the war. They talk about the global fallout, particularly reactions from around the world and why many non-Western leaders have distanced themselves from efforts to isolate Russia, and feel Western capitals should be investing more into addressing a perfect storm of other challenges – price hikes in food and fuel, poor countries' debt burdens and the climate emergency. They also survey some of the world's other wars and crises, many in danger of being neglected as attention focuses on Ukraine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Nobel Peace Prize was established by Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor and philanthropist, in 1901. Committee members in Norway meet privately to consider nominees. They look for world leaders who advance the cause of peace. But in recent years, this process has come under scrutiny. Critics say the prize has lost its way by honoring leaders who later fueled wars and violence. On this edition of PEACE TALKS RADIO, correspondent Avishay Artsy explores the Nobel Peace Prize's shortcomings and the calls to reform it. Guests are Dr. Kjetil Tronvoll, professor of peace and conflict studies at Oslo New University College in Norway and Dr. Comfort Ero who is the president and CEO of International Crisis Group.

The Nobel Peace Prize was established by Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor and philanthropist, in 1901. Committee members in Norway meet privately to consider nominees. They look for world leaders who advance the cause of peace. But in recent years, this process has come under scrutiny. Critics say the prize has lost its way by honoring leaders who later fueled wars and violence. On this edition of PEACE TALKS RADIO, correspondent Avishay Artsy explores the Nobel Peace Prize's shortcomings and the calls to reform it. Guests are Dr. Kjetil Tronvoll, professor of peace and conflict studies at Oslo New University College in Norway and Dr. Comfort Ero who is the president and CEO of International Crisis Group.

Today we're bringing you a bonus episode on the Russian war in Ukraine, from Crisis Group's global podcast Hold Your Fire! On Thursday 24 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the launch of, in his words, a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Russian airstrikes on military and other infrastructure near Ukrainian cities were followed by massive troop advances from the north, east and south. Despite fierce Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces have reached the capital Kyiv, where fighting rages on the city's streets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on all Ukrainians to arm themselves to defend their homeland. Notwithstanding months of warnings, as perhaps as many as 200,000 Russian troops have massed at the Ukrainian border, the Kremlin's invasion has left Europe, and indeed much of the world, in shock. It seems inevitable that it will exact a terrible human toll. This week on Hold Your Fire! Richard Atwood and guest host, Crisis Group's president & CEO Comfort Ero are joined by Olga Oliker, our Europe & Central Asia director and War & Peace co-host, to discuss Russia's aggression. They look at what's happening on the ground, what the next few days could bring and what happens if the Zelenskyy government falls and the Russians try to install a pliant regime in Kyiv. They talk about the mood in Moscow and reactions to Russia's invasion from around the world, including in China. They also talk through the Western response – the extent and impact of sanctions, what a NATO build-up would entail and whether Western powers should back Ukrainian resistance and what that might involve. They discuss the impact of Russia's invasion on wider global affairs. For more of Crisis Group's analysis, visit our Ukraine regional page, and make sure to read our recent statement ‘ War in Europe: Responding to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine'. Comfort and Richard also discuss the Ukraine crisis in their piece, ‘10 Conflicts To Watch in 2022'. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Thursday 24 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the launch of, in his words, a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Russian airstrikes on military and other infrastructure near Ukrainian cities were followed by massive troop advances from the north, east and south. Despite fierce Ukrainian resistance, Russian forces have reached the capital Kyiv, where fighting rages on the city's streets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on all Ukrainians to arm themselves to defend their homeland. Notwithstanding months of warnings, as perhaps as many as 200,000 Russian troops have massed at the Ukrainian border, the Kremlin's invasion has left Europe, and indeed much of the world, in shock. It seems inevitable that it will exact a terrible human toll. This week on Hold Your Fire! Richard Atwood and guest host, Crisis Group's president & CEO Comfort Ero are joined by Olga Oliker, our Europe & Central Asia director to discuss Russia's aggression. They look at what's happening on the ground, what the next few days could bring and what happens if the Zelenskyy government falls and the Russians try to install a pliant regime in Kyiv. They talk about the mood in Moscow and reactions to Russia's invasion from around the world, including in China. They also talk through the Western response – the extent and impact of sanctions, what a NATO build-up would entail and whether Western powers should back Ukrainian resistance and what that might involve. They discuss the impact of Russia's invasion on wider global affairs. For more of Crisis Group's analysis, visit our Ukraine regional page, and make sure to read our recent statement ‘ War in Europe: Responding to Russia's Invasion of Ukraine'. Comfort and Richard also discuss the Ukraine crisis in their piece, ‘10 Conflicts To Watch in 2022'. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Russia has amassed over 150,000 troops at the Ukrainian border, fuelling growing fear that Moscow plans an attack. Russian leaders deny any such plan and in recent days, the defence minister has claimed that Moscow is pulling back troops and equipment as military drills come to a close. Other reports and satellite imagery suggest, however, that in fact more are arriving. At the same time, front lines in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region separating areas held by the Ukrainian government and those held by Russia-backed separatists have seen a barrage of shelling, raising further concern that Moscow might use the violence as a pretext for military action. All this comes after an intense few weeks of diplomacy by Western leaders aimed at deterring Moscow. This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood and Comfort Ero, Crisis Group's president & CEO, are joined by Olya Oliker, Crisis Group's Europe and Central Asia Program director, to talk about latest developments, what to make of the recent shelling on front lines in Donbas and whether there is anything more the West can do to stave off further military action by Russia. They talk through Russian demands, from a halt to NATO expansion to Ukrainian compliance with Russia's interpretation of the Minsk agreements that aim to resolve the Donbas conflicts. They discuss Western efforts to deter Moscow and the degree of unity among Western capitals. They also talk about what a Russian invasion could look like in practice, its human toll and how Western leaders should respond. They also examine prospects for talks on the wider European security architecture if Russia does pull back. For more information, explore Crisis Group's analysis on our Ukraine regional page. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As Russia appears poised for a military escalation in Ukraine, humanitarian catastrophe looms in Afghanistan and negotiations over the Iran nuclear deal enter crunch time, what should we worry about in the year ahead? Each year Crisis Group's flagship publication 10 Conflicts to Watch, published with Foreign Policy magazine, looks at the trends, wars and crises that keep us up at night.On this week's Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood and guest host Ásdís Ólafsdóttir, Crisis Group's Online Communications Manager, are joined by Comfort Ero, our new President & CEO, to talk about what we're watching in 2022. They talk about big trends overshadowing global affairs: the impact of the pandemic and the climate crises on international peace and security, the human toll of the world's worst wars, the major and regional power rivalries that hinder peacemaking and make for several increasingly perilous flashpoints, as well as the U.S.'s evolving global role one year into President Joe Biden's tenure. They look up-close at the latest dynamics in individual crises, from Ukraine and Yemen to Afghanistan and Ethiopia, while sketching out some reasons for hope in an overall gloomy picture. For more information, make sure to explore the whole of our flagship commentary published with Foreign Policy magazine: “10 Conflicts to Watch in 2022”. For some more hopeful news, you can also check out Crisis Group's Twitter thread 10 Reasons For Hope in 2022. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From the Russian troop build up at Ukraine's border to the shadow war between the United States, Israel and Iran to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the year 2022 has some serious zones of conflict to watch. We take a look at these areas of concern including the ones most effecting the United States. FOX's Trey Yingst speaks to Dr Comfort Ero, CEO & President of Crisis Group, about the ten worst areas of military and humanitarian crisis zones to watch in 2022.

From the Russian troop build up at Ukraine's border to the shadow war between the United States, Israel and Iran to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the year 2022 has some serious zones of conflict to watch. We take a look at these areas of concern including the ones most effecting the United States. FOX's Trey Yingst speaks to Dr Comfort Ero, CEO & President of Crisis Group, about the ten worst areas of military and humanitarian crisis zones to watch in 2022.

After a post-Cold War hiatus, Russia is returning to Africa. Through both traditional diplomacy and the deployment of security contractors, Moscow's influence on the continent is growing. Particularly controversial has been the role of the Wagner Group, a Russian military contractor. In the Central African Republic (CAR), Wagner forces have been at the forefront of operations against rebels. Overall, Russia's muscular new visibility on the continent has unsettled Western powers. This week on Hold Your Fire!, Pauline Bax, Crisis Group's senior Africa adviser, joins Richard Atwood and guest co-host Comfort Ero. Pauline has just written a piece on Russia's role in CAR. They discuss how Russian mercenaries have shifted battlefield dynamics in that country in the government's favour and popular perceptions of their gains, both in the capital Bangui and in areas affected by fighting. They discuss how Moscow, which had close ties to former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, has navigated Sudan's revolution. They also talk about Russia's emerging role in the Sahel, where it has sought to capitalise on anti-France sentiment to win influence. They ask what Russia's aims are in Africa and what the impact of its increased presence is for Africans themselves.For more information, explore Crisis Group's analysis on our Russia and Africa pages. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Six months after the military seized power in Myanmar, mass strikes and a brutal crackdown by the regime continue to paralyse the country – as the economy and public services, including the health system, have collapsed and new forms of armed resistance are emerging. Joining Richard Atwood and guest co-host Comfort Ero this week to discuss what's happening in the country is Richard Horsey, Crisis Group's senior adviser for Myanmar. Richard describes new forms of armed resistance emerging against the regime and the military's heavy-handed retaliation that has displaced tens of thousands of people. He explains how these locally organised civilian militias have altered what was already a complex conflict landscape. They discuss the relationship among these new militias, underground resistance cells in cities like Yangon and Mandalay, the opposition National Unity Government and the ethnic armed groups that have long operated in parts of the country. They look at whether there is any hope of the regime changing course. They also examine what options exist for outside powers to ease humanitarian suffering and try to find a way out of the crisis. For more information, explore Crisis Group's analysis on our Myanmar page. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode of Crisis Group's podcast Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood and guest co-host Comfort Ero, our Interim Vice President and Africa Program Director, talk to Crisis Group's Deputy Africa Director Dino Mahtani about the insurrection unfolding in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado region. The militants - known locally as al-Shabab, and now labelled by the U.S. as a branch of the Islamic State - have been terrorising the population for years now without clearly stating their demands. Dino talks about who they really are and what their interests might be. He also discusses the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting in Maputo coming up in two weeks' time, when the bloc plans to lobby for the deployment of a regional force, amid growing fears that the conflict could spread beyond the borders of Mozambique. Dino unpacks the government's response to al-Shabab, its turn to Rwanda for military support as it attempts to diversify its security partners, and what the next steps should be. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week on Hold Your Fire!, Richard Atwood and guest co-host Comfort Ero, our Interim Vice President and Africa Program Director, talk to Crisis Group’s Deputy Africa Director Dino Mahtani about the insurrection unfolding in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado region. The militants - known locally as al-Shabab, and now labelled by the U.S. as a branch of the Islamic State - have been terrorising the population for years now without clearly stating their demands. Dino talks about who they really are and what their interests might be. He also discusses the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting in Maputo coming up in two weeks’ time, when the bloc plans to lobby for the deployment of a regional force, amid growing fears that the conflict could spread beyond the borders of Mozambique. Dino unpacks the government’s response to al-Shabab, its turn to Rwanda for military support as it attempts to diversify its security partners, and what the next steps should be. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Climate change, increased violence in the Sahel, and foreign intervention: Gideon Rachman talks to Comfort Ero, International Crisis Group's Africa Program Director, about what the African continent faces in 2020.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.